Wild Geese Farm: helping new farmers build their businesses

As a beginning farmer, Braeden Kwiecien of Wild Geese Farm, knows firsthand how much courage and community it takes to start a farm. He shared how the Pacific NW CSA Coalition’s farmer network has supported him through the challenges of launching and growing his business, and why he believes every farmer should have access to this kind of support.

"Starting a farm and running a CSA has been so challenging, and I don't think we could have done it without the support of the PNWCSA. If it weren't for their help with networking, accepting SNAP and finding other opportunities for help, we would not have made it through our first year."

"We made the most valuable connections with other farmers at PNWCSA events. The community of farmers that I can reach out to for advice or for extra crops when we need it has been a lifeline for us. We wouldn't be farming without the support of our new farmer friends. And we wouldn't have met them without PNWCSA offering so many avenues to connection."

"Our farm is growing faster and achieving more than I thought was possible, and it's thanks to the opportunities PNWCSA provides. We participated in grant-funded educational events, workshops to improve our marketing and sales, and made sales at PNWCSA events. All of this has meant we could keep pushing to grow more food, higher quality food, and distribute it to our community."

“I am so grateful for the work you do, and I think every farmer needs an organization like yours in their community. If they don't have it, they don't know what they're missing!”

Help us support beginning farmers as they launch their businesses by donating here. It’s hard enough to grow food. Starting a farm and a business at the same time takes courage — and community. Your donation to PNWCSA gives beginning farmers the training, networks, and market opportunities they need to turn their hard work into lasting success.